Deoxycholic acid inhibits the growth of BGC-823 gastric carcinoma cells via a p53‑mediated pathway.

The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of deoxycholic acid (DCA) on BGC‑823 human gastric carcinoma cells and to explore the possible mechanisms underlying any such effects. Cell proliferation was detected using a 3‑(4,5‑Dimethylthiazol‑2‑yl)‑2,5‑diphenyl tetrazolium bromide assay, cell morphology was observed by inverted microscopy, and cell cycle progression and the mitochondrial membrane potential were analyzed using flow cytometry. The expression of Bcl‑2, Bax, p53, Cyclin D1 and cyclin‑dependent kinase (CDK)2 proteins in BGC‑823 cells was analyzed with western blotting. The results demonstrated that DCA significantly inhibited cell growth, and that the cell cycle was arrested at the G1 phase. DCA was also shown to induce BGC‑823 cell apoptosis, which was associated with the collapse of the mitochondrial membrane potential. The mitochondria‑dependent pathway was activated via an increase in the ratio of Bax:Bcl‑2 in BGC‑823 cells. In addition, the expression of p53, cyclin D1 and CDK2 was altered following DCA treatment. These results suggest that DCA induces apoptosis in gastric carcinoma cells through activation of an intrinsic mitochondrial‑dependent pathway, in which p53 is involved.